Calculator



S. WEISS CALCULATOR Dec. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 195oqwf/ Dec. `28, 1954 s. wElss 2,698,137

CALCULATOR Filed Nov. 28 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

l 5.0/ Wad/'5f United States Patent/TO CALCULATOR soi weiss,Philadelphia', Pa. vApplication November 28, 1950,` Serial No. 197,973Claims. (Cl. 235-78)V My invention relates to calculators, and relatesparticularly to a pocket calculator, of the circular variety.

It is an object of my invention to provide a small pocket calculator bymeans of which columns of gures may be quickly added and totaled, andalso, by means of which subtraction may be made, simply by reversing theminuend operation of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a calculator of thecharacter described which is positive in opzratiion and incapable oferror when correctly manipuate Another object of my invention is toprovide a small pocket calculator which has relatively simple partswhich do not wear or easily get out of order.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pocket calculator whichis easily read and easilyactuated.

Another object of my invention 1s to manufacturea small calculatorwherein the parts may be easily molded of a plastic or synthetic resin.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of thecharacter described, that lis easily and economically produced, which issturdy in construction, and which is highly eicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consistsin thedetails of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fullyunderstood from the following description, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top View of the calculator, portions of which are cut awayto reveal the construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the calculator seen fromabove with one counter ring exposed.

Fig. 3 is a detailed fragmentary view showing the digit transfermechanism in inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary View showing the digit transfermechanism in operative position.

Fig. 5 is asectional view taken along the line 5-5 of 'Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the ring, the catch, and*l the catchholding spring.

F g. 7is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom piece of thecalculator.

1 Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the top piece of the calcuatOl':

F Fig 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of Fig 10 is asectional View taken along the line 10--10 of Fig."8.

Fig. 1l is a perspective view of the slide itself.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the stylus.

Referring now tothe drawings, wherein similar reference characters referto similar parts, I show a circular calculator with a top portion,generally designated as A1, of a case, a complementary bottom caseportion, generally designated as B, forming a case wherein there are' aplurality of counter rings, each of which is generally designatedwith'the prefix C. Each ring C has ten equally spaced notches N in itsouter curved surface `to'permit the insertion of a stylus, pencil point,or other sharp pointer for turning the ring and a communicating notch N1is adapted to be engaged by a catch, generally designated as E. Theupper face of each ring C carries the digits 0, 12, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and9 at equal. intervals in black color as viewed clockwise, and besideeach of the aforementioned digitsvis the digit 9, 8, 7,6, 5, '4, 3, 2,1, 0 in red color, the digits being located Ybetweenthesuccessive'notches N which are spaced ice 36 degrees apart. The digitson the face of the rings arenot visible when inserted within the case,except throughv The bottom of each ring.

next ring C2 indicates tens, ring C3 indicates hundreds,

ring C4 indicates thousands, and the innermost ring C5 indicates tens ofthousands. shown a calculator having live rings which can handle totalsup to live figures, but the calculator may have any desired number ofrings.

The upper outer surface A3 of the top case portion A1.

is provided with a plurality of concentric annular slots designated asA4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 which overlie' rings C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5,respectively.- These annular slots extend a distance of 5%@ of thecircumference of each of the rings, however, each of the slots A4 to A8,respectively, expose the notches N in the particular counter ring Cwhich it overlies. The remaining 1/10 of the upper surface is closedexcept for a plurality of windows or apertures therein which are coveredby a slide, generally designated as D, see Fig. 11. The aperture A2 iswhere the numerals on each .ring appear and may be designated thetotalizing aperture.

The windows in the top case portion A1 determined portions of the slideD, to be visible therethrough. The slide D is an elongated thin memberA10 having a plurality of openings D1 therein solthat only one digit onone ring may be seen at one moment of time. A tab 12 carries thenotation S-A (S to indicate for subtraction and A for addition), asecond tab 14 integrally formed with the body member 10 has a verticalhandle 16 which serves as a pusher so that S or A may be pushed to bevisible. The ends 20, 22 are slightly upturned to permit easy sliding ofthe slide D.

The uppermost surface of each ring C carries the digits 0 through 9equally spaced and arranged in ascending orderin a counter-clockwisedirection (red color) and also in a clockwise direction (black color) sothat the surface has numerals which read 9-0, 8-1, 7-2, 6-3,

5-4, etc. The red numerals arranged in a counterclockwise direction areused for hereinafter be described.

The under portion of the case has a plurality of circular walls 25, 26,27, 28, 29, 30, 31. The walls 25 to 29 extend adjacent the annular slotsA4 to A8, respectively. The vertical walls 26 to 30 cover the samecircular distance that the slots A4 to A8 extend.

performing subtraction, as will Those portions of the vertical walls 26to 30 whichiv are included in the central angle dened by the numerals 9and 0 on the central portion, are cut away leaving a transfer notch orgap 33 in the walls which extends for 36 degrees. These gaps aresullicientlyy deep lto permit a spring-pressed catch, generallydesignated as E, one of which is carried by each of the rings C1, C2, C3and C4 to pass entirely through the gap 33 and to engage one of thenotches N1 in the adjoining higher unit;V counter ring. A spring,generally designated as F, presses;

upon the catch E to keep it extended.

If one of the inner rings is rotated a complete revolue` tion, thesecond ring will be rotated 36 degrees or one-- tenth of thecircumference by the catch E engaging at The catch notch N1 of theadjoining inner ring. will be retracted by the dividing wall at theendof the movement through the gap 33. The walls defining the. ends of thegap are cut to form a beveled surfaceat each end to depress the springeasily. The spring and4 catch is the mechanism by which a transfer iseffected between any two adjoining rings, and the transfer will takeplace in the direction that the ring is rotated. This means that onering is to be rotated in one direction a full revolution to move theadjoining ring one tenth revolution.

The spring pressed catch E is carried by each of the counter rings C,except the innermost 10,000 unit ring A pocket 32 is formed in the innercurved wall of each VPatented Dec. 28, 1954i In the drawing, I haveenable prethe/.walliso thatthe ring moves smoothly into the .posit tionto which Aitzhas been moved by a stylus, generally designated as S., Ascrew 37 secures the catch E Vand its hook E1-A vto-the` ring;

A plurality of circulan concentric slots 40,41, 42, 43", and'` 4'4 areVformed in the inside surface of the bottom piece Bland eachxslotreceives one on the extensions 111iy on peachl of; theyrings. Throughthe concentric circular slots` 40,411, etc.,.is a radial slot 46 for thereception of the-stylus, S. It is toy be noted thatY the top and bottomIcase; portions A1' and B` are pivoted-` togetherV by a pivot holdingmember 48 Vso that in one case portion A1 ro tates with respect to theother B. Hence, when the stylus lies in theradial. slot 46 rotation ofthe rings C in onedirection: brings the extension 11` to rest againstthe stylus.

Upon the periphery of the upper case portion A1V are a series`ofequally'spaced digits 0, l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and` 9 designated as53 which are read counterclockwise-the 0 is located above the totalizinggures on the.;slide D and the 9 appears belowy the totalizing figure.Beforethe digits;3-4 is a "-l-re-set notation with its notch 50. andbetweenthe 45 digit is a reset notation with` its. notch 52., Thenotches 5052,.are adapted to receive the,v head S2 of the stylus. Thefunction of the +reset and the reset is to have the zero appearV in thewindows for addition and for subtraction. This is achieved in thefollowing manner:-

The-pointer S1 ofthe stylus S is inserted into the radial recess 46 asfar as it will go; the casingportion A1 and B for addition are rotated.at least one revolution so thatl all-,of the projections 11 on all ofthe rings move-until the head 52 of the stylus fits into the -1-resetnotch 50. Thegbottom casing portion B is moved counterclockwise by-,onehand while the top` casingv portion A1 is held stationary by the otherhand. Whenthe projections 11 are in their correctposition allv zerosshould appear in the windows.

To subtract, the reverse movement of the' casingsA A1 and` B occurs ascontrasted to the movements for addition-so thattall digits 9 appear inthe Windows until the slider D is moved to the4 subtraction sidewhenallV zeros, appear.

A radial indicator, generally designated as'` G, indicates the units,tens, hundreds and has openings inline` withf` theaconcentric slots A4,A5, etc.

Operation` To-use` the calculator for addition, the unit ringsjarerotated until their zero numerals appear in' the sight window. This isbrought about by inserting point S1 of the stylus S in the radial slot46'and rotatingthe'4 bottom case portion with respecty tothe upper caseportion' so f. that the rings pass one revolution andthen placing the:Yhead ofithe stylus in the reset' (-1-) notch 50; and

movingthe slide D until the A (additionyappears. .Alli of Athe-digitsappear in the WindowfAZ as 0. What hasV oceurredis 4that all'of` theextensions 11am-aligned; As

suming that the number 3254 is to rbe calculated, therst' digit-r4 isplaced on totalizerV of the calculator by' placing the point S1 of the`stylus S into the notchlN on the digitiofv the unit rin-g C1 at the 4(designated 53)', ,and moving the stylus in a clockwise direction untilitis arrested.` by the solid portion whereuponl the numeral 4` appearsthrough the sight'window A2l over theunit ring.

Thersecond digit ofV the number is registered by placing are repeated,and the digits may be added in anyord'erl provided that they areV placedon the-propierfunitring'.

Thertotal of 2657 plus 3254fwill appear` inthe; window When the1digit'7is added to` thedi'git* 3,v the' unit" counter ring# Clfw-illhave irevolve-d` voneY compie/te revoiultion, and the tens ring C2 willadvance one notch automatically, the transteribeing eiected bythe hookEI' of the catch mechanism E previously described, engaging the keepernotch N1 only in the space 33. The walls 26 cause the hook E1 to bedisengaged from the keeper notch N1 of the adjoining ring.

Subtraction To perform subtraction, the` totalizer is cleared, the Sappears in the window and the unit cleared to have all of the digitszerosappear otherwise1 digits 9 will appear. The minuend is located inthe totalizer by using the red numerals 54 instead of the black numbersv53 r` "and moving the stylus S counterclockwise. A series of red digits54 are located' alongsideof the' black digits 53 s o that the red digits54 and the black digits total 9; that 1s to say the black digits 53 areread in a counterclockwise direction while the red digits are read in aclockwise direction, so' that black` 1l isbeside red 8, b1a`ck`-2 isbe'-side red' 7, black 3 is beside red 6, until black 9 1s aiongside of red0.

In performing subtraction, the same-procedure is .foie lowed except thatthe minuend numeralsv are` located on the proper unit rings by referringto the inner ring. Each counter ring. C forming theminuend numeral istui-n ed counter-clockwise by means of the stylus until the entire`minuend has been setup. Thesubtrahend isthen locatedv as in a row offigures for addition and tl'ie'counter rings are turned in a clockwisemanner to complete the sub'- traction. p

In construction, the calculator is especially adapted to be made ofmolded' plastic composition, withv spring steel inserts. Thecalculatoris flat, light and sturdy,`

simple to use, and: inexpensivey to manufacture, and ac'- curate.

The calculator may be'carried by the'housewife to total the money sheexpends and canbe particularly useful inA super markets for shoppingpurposes.

All of the numerals on ringsC1 and C2 maybe red and allot the numeralson the otherrings C3, C4, and'. C5 may be in rblack to indicate dollars'(black) and cents (red). This expedites readingoi'the calculator.

Although my invention has been described inA con;y siderable detail,such.` description" is intended as being illustrative rather thanlimiting, Vsinceftheinvention may be variously embodied, and the scopeof the' invention-is to bedetermined as claimed;

I claim as my invention:

l. A pocket calculator comprising' a" flat base mem-- ber havingaperipheral ange thereon, a series ofi-conv centrically spaced annulargrooves in said` base, a topr4 member having aflangeada'pt'ed'totelescope'withinI said base` member, a series of concentric'annularop"enings"ii1` said top member, a series of rings having`ritir'neralsthere" on and located between said top merriberv and saidbase` member, a plurality vofnotches in said rin eachof said notcheshaving' a vertical portion` whic coincides with one of said annularopenings` inn saidftopmember;

and` a horizontal portion which liesorthe under4 sur@ face of said ring,the vertical portions of/eachnofl said notches being adapted'to receivean instrument for turn ing its respective ring,,said horizontal portionsbeing' adapted to receive a spring-pressed" catch mounted on=an1-radjacent ring, and each of said ringsbeing.furthenpro videdwith; a'depending lug which is adapted to'- enieiI '1l one of saidconcentrically spaced A. annular groovesin said base, `and saiddepending 1u`g` being." adaptedto engaged by a stylusjwherebyrotationoftleb'ase and the rings lbrings the ringsft a zero position. y

2. A- calculator, comprising a" disc-like 'b'dy merrie berV havingconcentric circularv dividing walls fo'ined.

thereon, ai plurality/of numeral" lbearing, rings' :adapted "t berotatedbetween-saidwalls; a set of notches'`f el ceiviiig an actuatingstylus"fo`rmedin` saidring's"adiacenti` being adapted to be compressedby said dividing walls and being adapted to project through said gap insaid dividing walls and to engage one of the ten transfer notches in anadjacent ring, and a depending lug projecting downwardly on each of saidrings.

` 3. My invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein said gaps in saidwalls extend approximately 36 degrees of a circle; and wherein a sightwindow is incorporated in said body member; and a radial slot extendingin said disc-like body member whereby a stylus placed in said slot isadapted to bring said rings to a zero position when relative motionoccurs between the rings and said body member.

4. In a pocket calculator to perform addition or subtraction, aplurality of rings, each ring having ten notches equally on its curvedoutermost periphery, a notch in one of said rings, a spring pressedcatch in said notch, said catch comprising a lever pivoted at one endand having a substantially V-shaped lug adjacent said other end, a case,means on said case to keep said spring pressed catch away from saidsecond ring for nine-tenths of the circumference of the rings, a gap insaid means for one-tenth of the circumference whereby said catch in onering may engage a notch in the adjoining ring whereby said two rings aremoved simultaneously, and a depending lug projecting downwardly on eachof said rings adapted to be engaged by a stylus located at a radiallyextending slot in said case to bring said rings to register at a zeroposition when said case and said rings are relatively moved.

5. The invention of claim 4 including a slide having windows on the topof said casing, digits upon said rings, and said digits being adapted tobe visible only at said window, said slide being radially movable fromone position for addition and to another position for subtraction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

